MONMOUTH — No opponent in the Mountain Valley Conference likes to see Monmouth Academy senior Reen Kahl on the mound. This is especially true of Hall-Dale.

For the second time in two weeks, Kahl pitched a no-hitter against the Bulldogs on Monday and this time it was a perfect game. The Mustangs pushed across a couple of runs in the fourth for a 2-0 victory to remain unbeaten at 11-0.

The no-hitter was the third of the season for Kahl, but her first perfect game. She also has four one-hitters.

“I kind of kept it in the back of my head,” Kahl said of the perfect game. “But I try not to think about it.”

Kahl struck out 11, including three on 3-2 counts, and had all her pitches working for her.

“I’ve developed a couple of new pitches,” she said. “I have a curve ball and screw ball and that’s helped a lot with moving it around in the zone. The changeup was good today.”

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Kahl fanned four batters with third-strike changeups, but everything works off her fastball.

“She’s definitely the fastest pitcher in our league,” Hall-dale catcher Carylanne Wolfington said. “I think we have trouble catching up to her.”

Freshman Olivia Maynard pitched a strong game for Hall-Dale (7-6) allowing just one hit while striking out six and walking two.

“She’s really mentally tough and wanting to get better,” Wolfington said.

The Bulldogs committed five errors, two each in the first and second innings but both times Maynard escaped bases-loaded jams with strikeouts, getting two straight to close the first. In the fourth inning, the Mustangs put runners on second and third via a walk, an error and a fielder’s choice. Maynard struck out leadoff batter Caroline Bonenfant on a ball in the dirt, but when Wolfington threw to first for the out, Natalie Young raced home from third.

Sabrina Buck followed with a double down the line to make it 2-0 and Kahl and the defense did the rest.

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“The defense did a good job behind her,” Monmouth coach Rachel Bernier said, citing infield plays from Bonenfant at short and Buck at second, along with two fine outfield catches. Center fielder Kylie Kemp made a nice running catch in right center in the third inning and in the fourth Colby Wilson reached above her head to stab Emily Maynard’s line shot to right, the hardest hit ball of the game.

The Mustangs start two freshmen on the left side of the infield while Buck, a sophomore, missed last season with an injury.

“Being so young it’s difficult to think you’re going to be (11-0) at this stage in the season,” Bernier said.

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com


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